Hello! I've been looking for a Cherokee for a bit now. My dad and I are planning on doing the Trans America Trail after he retires and have narrowed down our choice of vehicle to an XJ. Since I'm fairly new to this, I was hoping you guys might be able to provide some insight/opinions on one I found on Marketplace. Link is below, but I'm going to copy/paste the info from the listing here too. He's asking $10,500 and told me he turned down an offer for $9,500 about a month ago. Is this worth going to look at? Thank you in advance!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/742593400079402/
- Iron rock 3 link
- 7.5 total lift
- Rustys front bumper
- Steel 1/4” rear bumper
- Locked 8.25 rear
- Front and rear diff covers
- Adjustable track bar and bracket from core 4x4
- 1 ton cavfab steering
- Johnny joints
- bilstein 5125
- shackle relocation
- 35x12.5r15
- method double std

-Motor has 24k
-Axles have both been rebuilt completely
-Every bearing and seal in the jeep has been replaced
- everything in engine bay is new
- All new fuel lines, trans lines, brake lines, coolant hoses,
- aftermarket lights all work
- 9500lb smittybilt winch
- full audio system
- everything in brake system has been replaced in last 20k miles
- floor pans have been replaced
- new black carpet
- new flex plate
- cold air intake (still have oem)
- 2 row aluminum radiator
- wj clutch fan
- new thermostat

 

Coming from an old guy so take my comments with a grain (or ton) of salt.

You didn't mention how much he is asking for the Jeep and that would factor into a decision whether to buy or not. For me, the modifications generally decrease the value of a vehicle unless it is set up how I would ultimately set mine up. The replacement of key items like trans and brake lines are a good thing as long as they are OE quality (and preferably OEM). Personally I would look for an unmolested XJ and set it up for overlanding vs rock crawling. But you do you. I get that most folks who buy XJ's want stuff like this one.

I may be wrong, but I wouldn't think you need that type of rig for the TAT.

 

Added the price, $10,500 to the original post. That's an important piece of info, sorry about that! And, I appreciate your insight. We're going back and forth buying a stock one or buying a modded one right now. I think something more set up for overlanding would be what we're looking for.

 

Yeah, that wouldn't be worth it to me. Maybe you couldn't replicate what he has done for $10,500 but generally one never gets what they put into a vehicle back when they sell it. Even the Harley guys will tell you; "yes, I paid $17K for my Road King and sold it for $17K, but I put $8k worth of extras on it!"

As a reference, I recently purchased my XJ; '99 with 200K miles, mostly original, body has plenty of dents and dings, but zero rust. And never was rusty since it is a Texas vehicle. It needs work; had to rebuild the front axle, needs brakes, trans lines but had recent suspension and steering linkage replaced, good tires too. Had to replace rear main seal, power steering pump hose, trans pan gasket and I really just getting started. My guess is without paint, I'll end up with $6-7K in it when I get it the way I want it.

I overpaid when I gave the guy $3500. It is closer to $2500 in my opinion but I bought it without seeing it first in person so that's on me.

 

How much rust it has on the underside will be key to its value...

In many states, the lack of fender flares that cover the tires would not be legal, nor would the Heim Joints in the steering.

Personally not a fan of stubby bumpers.

 

I think that's a little steep cost wise. I say this because this comes off as a fairly simple build in my opinion. I would also pitch the argument that a very clean un-molested jeep holds a better value against someone's custom modified jeep. Fair bolt ons here that definitely have a cost value but nothing that can't be sourced yourself. A couple questions though - What gears do the axles have? what kind of locker is in the rear? How were the floors repaired? How does the jeep look in person vs the sellers chosen pictures?

There are some very valid points being made in reference to invested cost/value and also how one person sets things up on an offroad rig may not be the appeal of another. Which may lead to replacing/re-investing parts of the jeep to suit your actual needs.

In your case, having stated being new to this i dont think id start out with something as modified as this one is.

I actually prefer the Built not Bought approach to an offroad vehicle, i feel when coming into this a little green you potentially cheat yourself a fair amount of valuable learning experiences buying something already built vs building it to suit your needs yourself.

I recently splurged and actually bought a rig previously built by someone i know. While i Loved the finished product via internet pictures- after getting the rig home and really combing through its build quality- i have a lot to change! (Im now the 3rd/4th owner since it was initially finished fwiw so some things have changed along the way) This can be discouraging in the long run especially if there are high expectations from someone else work quality (relatable to my situation)

 

^^^^^ I feel the same way. I keep finding stuff to repair and redo. After I paid for it and took delivery, I drove it the two hours home and pulled it directly into the garage to do a front axle swap. I figured I'd whip that out and then wash it.

Three months later and it's still on jack stands (now all four wheels/tires are off) and so far I have done or will do the following that I hadn't planned on:
New rear main seal
New filter adapter seals
Transmission pan gasket
New brakes all around to be done
power steering hose replacement
Fuel line from rail down under the Jeep replacement
Trans lines to be replaced

And mine was supposed to be a "good to go" Jeep. Appearances can be deceiving. It's only after time in and under a vehicle that one gets truly intimate with it and learns what it is made of and the real condition it is in.

I will get mine to where I want it, but like most things in life, it will take longer than I thought and cost more.

 

This is where i'm at as well.I put up a build thread for the jeep i bought to depict this exact ordeal - purchased expectations did not meet the reality behind its condition.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/bi...manche-266044/

I've changed up the interior some- added a headliner, started working through some various wiring jobs (a couple different electricians adding things into this jeep). Changed out the trans shifter, rear shocks and shackles, track bar frame mount, Tie rod ends.

I still need to change out rear shock mounts on the axle, u-bolts and spring mounts, The long arm/radius arm setup will get changed, the track bar needs to be changed as the front axle isn't centered under the jeep and the steering angle vs track bar isn't right either - SO again either gonna change the pitman arm height or track bar frame mount length. Gonna be changing the gas tank setup and fuel delivery system, aux trans cooler setup, battery mount setup. The list goes on but i hope this makes a clear point - pre built doesn't always get you what you want

 

I should start a build thread, but my progress is so slow, I doubt anyone will be interested in it. I guess I could do it so I have a public record though.

 

The question I have is how does it drive? With that amount of lift you run into steering problems because you have exceeded the limits of motion of the tie rod ends. So the question is how does it drive at freeway speeds and can you hit a bump with out bump steer or death wobble. XJs vary in price throughout the country, but that one is very clean, on the outside at least. That price for instance in southern CA would be a steal. And could you overland in that, Of course. The question is, are you tall enough to set up a roof top tent lifted that high

 

I find it interesting that you think for CA, that would be a steal. I would think a Californian wouldn't take one look at a Jeep that has new floor pans due to rust.

 

i'd describe most threads as just that - slow progress but also public record. I find myself recalling old updates from time to time just for the kicks of where the jeep began to where it is now

 

Didn't see anything about rust. But being that clean outside still might go for more than a few bucks

 

I'd pass on that one if you're wanting to use it to run the TAT - that's not a hardcore wheeling trip and the XJ you're looking at is setup more for wheeling than exploring. All that lift and 35s with a locked rear are going diminish road manners. 35s are a lot of tire for an XJ and the axles need to be built up to handle them reliably - I didn't see anything in the description about what type of locker and gear ratio, so definitely check that.

A stockish XJ on 29s-31s would be ideal for the TAT.